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'Made in Henderson County' event inspires students

Richard Reece, manufacturing manager with Meritor, gives a tour of the facility to students from Rugby Middle School on Friday.

MIKE DIRKS/TIMES-NEWS

By NANCY TANKERTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Friday, October 4, 2013 at 6:45 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, October 4, 2013 at 6:45 p.m.

Eziah Padilla, 13, stood with wide eyes inside the sprawling Meritor manufacturing plant in Fletcher Friday, intently watching a 6-foot-tall orange robot twist and bend with precision while machining automotive parts to be sold around the world.

“The robots are pretty cool,” said the eighth-grader from Rugby Middle. “I like the way they do every movement just right. I like how mechanical systems work.”

Middle and high school students took a field trip to the high-tech Meritor facility to learn about technology and future careers.

The event, called “Made in Henderson County” and held on National Manufacturing Day, was coordinated by the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development to strengthen connections between local manufacturers and schools.

In all, 175 county students visited four local manufacturers: Meritor, Elkamet, SELEE Corporation and Wilsonart International.

About 70 students from Balfour Education Center and Rugby Middle visited Meritor, where they learned that Meritor manufactured P-51 fighter planes during World War II, and later its aerospace division built the space shuttle. Today, some of the parts it manufactures are used on vehicles that soldiers use in Afghanistan.

As some students met with Meritor employees to discuss their day-to-day duties and backgrounds, others toured the plant, which was filled to the brim with $100 million in equipment, from computers and robotics to 20-foot-tall machines that produce truck parts.

Passing by several Meritor welders surrounded by sparks, Rugby eighth-grader David Creech, 13, was clearly impressed by the company's manufacturing operation.

“I like building things,” he said. “I'm making a laser pointer now, just for the entertainment of it. Instead of buying one online for $50, I'm finding a cheaper way to build it for about $20 by sourcing the parts online. I'm getting a soldering iron soon.”

Patrick Maynor, 16, who attends East Henderson High and Balfour Education Center, said his plan was to work at Meritor someday.

“I like how the machines heat up the metal and in an instant form the final products,” he said, adding that he's currently in Balfour's mechatronics program. “I like hands-on activities like drawing and making my own things. My hopes are to go to N.C. state and study welding and CNC.”

“It's great when kids can walk in the doors of a place like Meritor and see the products being made and say, 'Wow! This is a lot cooler than I expected!' We want kids to realize at an early age that there are a lot of really great things going on in manufacturing now and generate excitement about a potential career in manufacturing,” he said.

“This is not their grandfather's manufacturing plant of the past,” added Tony Almeida, senior advisor to Gov. Pat McCrory. “Today it's about high-tech manufacturing, innovation, robotics and how jobs at places like Meritor can benefit the community, the state and the nation so that we can compete in the global marketplace.”

Blue Ridge Community College President Molly Parkhill told the students that with a two-year degree or technical training, they can earn about 35 percent more than those with only a high school degree.

Henderson County is home to 135 manufacturers with a combined workforce of more than 5,000, said Nathan Kennedy, a vice president at First Citizens Bank and chair of the HCPED Board. Those manufacturers have “a combined total payroll of $258 million, and average wages exceeding $48,000 a year.”

Meritor has the some of the most advanced high-tech equipment on the market, said Richard Reece, the company's manufacturing manager and gear engineer.

“We hope that if some of these kids want to do some manufacturing work, that they'll stay here in our community,” he added.

That sounds great to Meritor's director of operations and site manager, Brian Cavagnini. Despite the fact that he works closely with local schools such as Blue Ridge Community College to train students on advanced equipment, manufacturers “still struggle” to find enough qualified technicians. The National Association of Manufacturers estimates that 600,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs remain unfilled because of a lack of properly trained applicants.

“As a company that manufactures components for vehicles that are more sophisticated than ever before, we have to compete globally in an industry that demands innovation,” Cavagnini told the students. “This means we need people like you, with good training and skills.”

Fletcher Mayor Bill Moore said Henderson County has been able to attract businesses to the area “because of the quality workforce we have here.” Glancing at the students, he added that “Now is the time for them to think about what they're going to do when they get out of high school. What makes our community grow is quality jobs. These are $50,000 a year jobs with good benefits.”

“I'd like to be an engineer,” said Sam Bailes, 15, a 10th-grader at East Henderson and Balfour. “I've been getting into building things.” He is currently taking drafting and technology courses and next year will have the chance to enter the mechatronics program.

Bailes said he was impressed not only by the size of the Meritor plant but also by “all the technology.”

“To be able to create something with your own hands from start to finish is really incredible,” he added.

<p>Eziah Padilla, 13, stood with wide eyes inside the sprawling Meritor manufacturing plant in Fletcher Friday, intently watching a 6-foot-tall orange robot twist and bend with precision while machining automotive parts to be sold around the world. </p><p>“The robots are pretty cool,” said the eighth-grader from Rugby Middle. “I like the way they do every movement just right. I like how mechanical systems work.” </p><p> Middle and high school students took a field trip to the high-tech Meritor facility to learn about technology and future careers. </p><p>The event, called “Made in Henderson County” and held on National Manufacturing Day, was coordinated by the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development to strengthen connections between local manufacturers and schools. </p><p>In all, 175 county students visited four local manufacturers: Meritor, Elkamet, SELEE Corporation and Wilsonart International. </p><p>About 70 students from Balfour Education Center and Rugby Middle visited Meritor, where they learned that Meritor manufactured P-51 fighter planes during World War II, and later its aerospace division built the space shuttle. Today, some of the parts it manufactures are used on vehicles that soldiers use in Afghanistan. </p><p>As some students met with Meritor employees to discuss their day-to-day duties and backgrounds, others toured the plant, which was filled to the brim with $100 million in equipment, from computers and robotics to 20-foot-tall machines that produce truck parts. </p><p>Passing by several Meritor welders surrounded by sparks, Rugby eighth-grader David Creech, 13, was clearly impressed by the company's manufacturing operation.</p><p>“I like building things,” he said. “I'm making a laser pointer now, just for the entertainment of it. Instead of buying one online for $50, I'm finding a cheaper way to build it for about $20 by sourcing the parts online. I'm getting a soldering iron soon.”</p><p>Patrick Maynor, 16, who attends East Henderson High and Balfour Education Center, said his plan was to work at Meritor someday. </p><p>“I like how the machines heat up the metal and in an instant form the final products,” he said, adding that he's currently in Balfour's mechatronics program. “I like hands-on activities like drawing and making my own things. My hopes are to go to N.C. state and study welding and CNC.”</p><p>CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control, explained Pete Szelwach, plant manager at Hendersonville-based Clement Pappas and chair of the HCPED Existing Industry Committee. </p><p>“It's great when kids can walk in the doors of a place like Meritor and see the products being made and say, 'Wow! This is a lot cooler than I expected!' We want kids to realize at an early age that there are a lot of really great things going on in manufacturing now and generate excitement about a potential career in manufacturing,” he said. </p><p>“This is not their grandfather's manufacturing plant of the past,” added Tony Almeida, senior advisor to Gov. Pat McCrory. “Today it's about high-tech manufacturing, innovation, robotics and how jobs at places like Meritor can benefit the community, the state and the nation so that we can compete in the global marketplace.”</p><p>Blue Ridge Community College President Molly Parkhill told the students that with a two-year degree or technical training, they can earn about 35 percent more than those with only a high school degree. </p><p>Henderson County is home to 135 manufacturers with a combined workforce of more than 5,000, said Nathan Kennedy, a vice president at First Citizens Bank and chair of the HCPED Board. Those manufacturers have “a combined total payroll of $258 million, and average wages exceeding $48,000 a year.”</p><p>Meritor has the some of the most advanced high-tech equipment on the market, said Richard Reece, the company's manufacturing manager and gear engineer. </p><p>“We hope that if some of these kids want to do some manufacturing work, that they'll stay here in our community,” he added.</p><p>That sounds great to Meritor's director of operations and site manager, Brian Cavagnini. Despite the fact that he works closely with local schools such as Blue Ridge Community College to train students on advanced equipment, manufacturers “still struggle” to find enough qualified technicians. The National Association of Manufacturers estimates that 600,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs remain unfilled because of a lack of properly trained applicants. </p><p>“As a company that manufactures components for vehicles that are more sophisticated than ever before, we have to compete globally in an industry that demands innovation,” Cavagnini told the students. “This means we need people like you, with good training and skills.”</p><p>Fletcher Mayor Bill Moore said Henderson County has been able to attract businesses to the area “because of the quality workforce we have here.” Glancing at the students, he added that “Now is the time for them to think about what they're going to do when they get out of high school. What makes our community grow is quality jobs. These are $50,000 a year jobs with good benefits.”</p><p>“I'd like to be an engineer,” said Sam Bailes, 15, a 10th-grader at East Henderson and Balfour. “I've been getting into building things.” He is currently taking drafting and technology courses and next year will have the chance to enter the mechatronics program. </p><p>Bailes said he was impressed not only by the size of the Meritor plant but also by “all the technology.” </p><p>“To be able to create something with your own hands from start to finish is really incredible,” he added.</p><p>Reach Tanker at 828-694-7871 or nancy.tanker@blueridgenow.com.</p>